Clairton RB Howard set for Robert Morris

Clairton running back Deontae Howard signed with Robert Morris on national signing day Feb. 3., but kept it quiet, saying he just wanted to share the moment with his mother.

Howard visited the Moon campus the weekend before signing day and said he “fell in love with it.” He plans to major in journalism and said he liked Robert Morris’ journalism program.

Howard rushed for a school-record 2,371 yards and 35 touchdowns this past season, helping to lead Clairton to a PIAA Class A title. He was also named the The Associated Press Class A Player of the Year.

Electing to not play basketball this winter, Howard instead will be in the weight room, trying to add to his 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame to try to earn some early playing time behind two returning seniors at running back.

“They’re expecting me to come in and learn behind them. If I work hard enough, I’ll be in there,” Howard said. “I’m planning on going in and making a name for myself.”

— Speaking of Clairton, Bears receiver Kevin Weatherspoon offered this about Dave Wannstedt and the Pitt coaching staff during his recruitment. Weatherspoon signed with Pitt over scholarship offers from Syracuse and several Mid American Conference schools:

“Listening to them talk to me, I could tell they were telling the truth,” Weatherspoon said. “They made me feel like what they were saying was real.

“There used to be a ton of schools that came in from across the country, like Stanford. Even though a lot of schools showed interest, I could tell who wasn’t going to offer (a scholarship). When they would talk to me, they wouldn’t look at me in my eyes, like they were trying to rush on out of here because I was too short or that I wasn’t what they wanted. I could sense a vibe. It happened a few times.”